Positions on Finance

R - Convention Resolution PS - Position/Policy Statement PI - Priority Item LAI - Legislative Action Item

• AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN (ADC) - Supports locality regrouping for equitable assistance determination, and support for resulting funding levels. (PS)  Supports sufficient state funding to ensure those eligible receive 100% of the cost of living. (PS)
• ALTERNATIVE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS  - Supports legislation developing alternative methods of capital projects financing for public education. (R - 1994)
  
• AUTONOMY - Supports locality autonomy regarding the
  number of necessary schools with no loss of state funds. (PS)
  
• CIGARETTE TAX – Supports legislation to increase the cigarette tax with proceeds for additional funding of SOQs and/or health issues affecting juveniles. (R – 2003)
  
• FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NO CHILD LEFT BEHIIND – Supports all efforts by the Virginia DOE and BOE to secure full funding for programs under NCLB. (R-2005)
  
• FISCALLY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BOARDS - Supports constitutional amendment allowing local option. (PI - 1986)
  
• FUND DISTRIBUTION - Supports a formula for equitable distribution. (PS)  Supports funding which addresses certain localities’ inability to generate sufficient funds. (PS)  Supports funding for all preschool initiatives regardless of prior initiatives.  (R – 2001)
  
• FUNDING LEVEL - Supports enforcement of the General Assembly’s statutory requirement for the funding of public education. (PS – 2004)  Supports full funding provided to all school divisions for a broad-based K-12 curriculum. (PS – 2004)  Supports maximum level funding for all mandated programs. (PS)  Requests General Assembly fully fund the state's share of the Standards Of Quality (SOQs).  (PI-1986)  Supports requiring appropriate state funding to extend the school year beyond 180 days.  (LAI – 2001) 
  
• GIFTED/TALENTED  - Protect funding for children and seek to restore full funding for Governor's Schools summer/similar programs. (R - 1995)
  
• GUIDANCE COUNSELORS - Supports legislation to provide funding for elementary school guidance counselors. (PI - 1986)  Supports state funding of elementary and secondary guidance counselors. (PS)
  
• KINDERGARTEN - Supports the right to half-day program with full funding. (PS)
  
• LIMITS - Opposes arbitrary limits on state appropriations. (PS) 
  
• LITERARY FUND - Supports legislation for portion designation for school construction/renovation.  Minimum level be established to ensure availability of funds with undue delay. (R - 1992)  Opposes use for anything other than school construction/renovation or legislation to decrease. (PS)
  
• LOCAL SCHOOL BUDGETS - Opposes line item cuts by governing bodies. (PS)  Supports automatic approval of a proposed budget if the governing body does not act upon the budget by the required dates. (PS)
  
• LOTTERY FUNDING - Supports legislation which requires a portion of Lottery proceeds be appropriated for elementary/secondary education. (R - 1989)  Supports designation of a percentage of proceeds be returned to localities for education purposes only.  (LAI - 1994)  Supports use of Lottery funds for construction/capital equipment/physical plant improvement. (PS)
  
• OFFICES ON YOUTH - Supports continued funding by General Assembly. (R - 1994)
  
• POISON CONTROL CENTERS - Supports continued funding through legislation. (R - 1994)
  
• PUBLIC FUNDS  - Opposes for non-public elementary/secondary education. (PS)
  
• PUBLIC LIBRARY - Supports adequate funding for the public library system. (PS)
  
• REDUCTION OF DISPARITY - Supports increased funding to reduce disparity. (R - 1991)
  
• REGIONAL ASSESSMENT CENTERS - Supports funding for expansion. (R - 1988)
  
• SALARIES – Seeks legislation for K-12 public school teachers’ salaries at a level equal to or greater than the national average. (LAI – 2004)  Supports efforts to make education/support personnel competitive with other professions. (PS)
  
• SALES TAX – Supports legislation to allow statewide/local referenda to increase sales tax with 50% of increase used for K-12 public education. (LAI – 2003)  Supports local option for 1/2% sales tax with proceeds used for education. (R - 1989)
  
• SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION – Supports adequate state funding to assist localities in all necessary school construction.  (PS – 1999)
  
• STIPENDS – Seeks legislation providing a stipend for highly qualified teachers and administrators to seek positions in underperforming schools. (LAI – 2004)
  
• VSRS (Virginia Supplemental Retirement System) - Supports adequate state funding for, and opposes any action that threatens its benefits.  (PS)